Dog and Duck is a dirty little pub with a bathroom that smells like piss and a bar that leans to the west. Hideous plaid drapes the banquet seating wall to the east, and lesbians play darts, Golden Tee, and pool to the south. What's not to love? There's a beautiful dark green tin ceiling, and there seems to be a green theme with green panel walls and brass ceiling fans that try to be something they're not. There is a beautiful wood and mirrored back bar though. A large flat screen TV rounds out the scene. It's Austin. Exactly. A more authentic place you might not find. Service can be slow... that's part of the whole picture.

So how would I describe this place? Quirky. Yes, probably so. It's kind of an oasis of weirdness apart and away from the more 'typical' 'commercial' weirdness that's Austin. I felt somehow more at home here talking music with some halfway hobos than I did downtown.

Would I go back? Absolutely. And the only drawback, I think, is that the owners probably don't see this gem of a piss-stink bathroom dive bar as that... they want it to be nicer. So just ignore the green and plaid walls and have another F'n beer! No one really wants to be inside anyway, right? Cheers y'all!

The Dog & Duck Pub is a fascinating pub in its locale and atmosphere, in the middle of a busy downtown sits this very English style pub. Amidst the tall buildings and rushing cars, its a fine escape.

The selection of beers is nice, and the waitstaff knows how to pour them properly (a factor often overlooked at many bars). The grub is of traditional British pub, and has some of the best fish and chips in town.

They have a good amount of outside seating, which works well in Austin most of the year.

They also do a nice St. Patrick's day celebration with lots of music, people and, of course, plenty of beer.

Stopped in for the first time tonight with the wife and a couple friends for a few pints and was mostly pleased. Despite plentiful seating on the deck outside, we chose a cozy table inside and proceeded to the bar to order. On tap was standard import fare; an above-average local selection, including Real Ale's Devil's Backbone (my first pint, at $5.25); and a few scattered American crafts, like Ommegang Hennepin and Summit Extra Pale Ale (my second pint, at $4.75). Around 30 different offerings, I think.

On this Wednesday night, the place wasn't terribly busy, and the two bartenders were responsive. The music wasn't too loud, the light was low, the A/C was cold, and all of these factors made the Dog and Duck an all-around good place to sit and talk over a couple rounds.

The building was a wrap-around on the corner of West 17th and Guadalupe. A wide, outdoor seating deck followed the width of the building. The entry was at the (facing) far left and opened onto a Golden Tee and a CD jukebox as well as a green-felt pool table. Moving left to right, there were a pair of English-style dartboards, followed by the inverted "L"-shaped, dark wood bar. The back bar was an ornate carved light wood and mirror assembly with the kitchen to its right. The front wall was a series of upholstered benches fronted by standard tables and chairs. The overhead was a beautiful pressed tin ceiling. Continuing right was a pathway leading to the lavs.

Beers: 50 on tap and 25 bottles.

At first, I was thoroughly unimpressed by the kitchen service - my ticket was initially misplaced and later brought out comped. Nice!

With 40ish taps of mostly British imports, the Dog & Duck is one of the more authentic English pubs in Austin. Whereas Fado and BD Rileys go for more of a designer Britpub feel, the Dog & Duck with its copper ceilings and plenitude of dart boards is more akin to what I would expect to find in the average English neighborhood. The menu favors Brit fare such as bangers and mash and the like and also strives sucessfully for authenticity. This bar is often packed with a college aged crowd as its a mere 5-6 blocks from the University of Texas campus. They throw a pretty lively St Patricks Day celebration every year thats more of a block party than anything. If it gets too crowded inside there are always a number of wooden picnic tables out on the patio.

I stopped in for lunch during a recent visit to Austin, and came back later that evening for some beers. Other than Ginger Man, this seems like the place to be in town for a good beer selection with a great selection on tap and in bottles.

When I stopped for lunch things were a bit slow, and the bartender and I chatted a good bit about business. He was extremely knowledgeable and friendly. The pub's selection is wide, but being from out of town I would've preferred to see more beers I couldn't get back home.

I had lunch, but I couldn't find much I was interested in on the menu. I had a Philly Cheese-steak sandwich, and I wasn't too impressed with it. Maybe I chose poorly. One block to the east was a Mexican place I wish I had gone to instead. Still, as a beer place, I think it would be a mistake to skip this place when in Austin.

Dog & Duck is one of my favorite places in Austin. It's close enough to campus to make it onto my weekly lunch rotation. The food is good, the atmosphere is good and the beer selection is very good.

Ok. Details. At 17th and Guadalupe, this is a great location for visitors. It's an easily walkable mile from 6th and Congress (the center of the map). It's just a couple of blocks west of the Capitol and a short walk southwest of the UT campus.

Inside, it's dark faux pub. Dart boards, pool table, video poker, wireless. There are several tables indoors. And you may recognize the bar from Miss Congeniality (Sandra Bullock orders a tub of ice cream). Outside, there are three patios: picnic tables under the trees to the south, a raised deck to the east, and a beer garden out back. Plenty of choices, though it does get busy at happy hour.

There's a decent mixture of food: Standard American (burgers, sandwiches, wraps, etc.); British Pub (bangers and mash, bubble and squeak, hot ploughman's, scotch eggs, fish and chips, etc.). There are also daily specials. Food prices are pretty good for the area. Table service begins around 5pm; order food/drinks from the bar before that.

There are 35 taps (if you subtract the two serving cider). Lots of British, a few German and a few other European taps. And plenty of local and American micro, including seasonals (usually Sierra Nevada, St. Arnold and Live Oak seasonals). Very little in the way of macro. Three or four Real Ale Brewing Co. taps and usually three Live Oak taps. There are daily beer specials, and you can always supersize any American pint (16oz) to a British pint (20oz) for 50 cents. Nice selection of bottles, too. The only thing they really need to push this place over the top is cask.

A really good, urban, British-style pub within walking distance from the Capitol and UT. Good college-pub feel without being overrun by frat boys. Not as authentic as some but a good establishment nonetheless.

Somewhere around 40 taps with a good selection of all the local brewers, at least 20 brands in bottles, maybe more. Staff is young, well-informed and friendly. Food is standard pub grub but better quality than most (I've never had a bad meal in Austin).

Pool table, darts, lots of patio space, some out front and more in back. Wireless internet also available, if you're tired of Starbucks. If you're visiting Austin and want a good sample of Texas beers, this is a good location to find most of them, even if it is a long walk from Sixth Street.

The Dog & Duck is one of my all time favorite Austin beer bars. While it may not have as many taps as some others, they have a good selection of Texas micros (Live Oak, Independence, St Arnold, etc) and imported beers. The staff is great - they are pretty knowledgeable about beer and talented (there are several local musicians who work there). It's just a great laid-back bar with a good patio in the back and covered deck. The food is good, nothing fancy, but ultimately satisfying - good burgers, and really good fish and chips. There's a couple of dart boards and a pool table, but usually I just enjoy hanging outside on one of their many picnic benches.

It's been a couple of years since I've been there, but I used to live a couple of blocks away, and I've always had a good time. The atomosphere is dark and inspiring. If you are a poet or writer, this would be great place to hang out. The beer is fresh and cold.
I used to be a big fan of Boddington, and Dog&Duck had it draft. Fish and chips here are tasty and crisp and quite delicious. (Then again, I've always been drunk when I've tasted them.)
This is definitely a place I would recommend and look forward to visiting again.